PKL 12: What will be UP Yoddhas' starting 7 in Pro Kabaddi 2025?

UP Yoddhas retained their core group from last season.

UP Yoddhas were one of the few teams that kept their core. Yoddhas have retained 12 players ahead of the PKL 12 auction. Apart from this, they also used 2 Final Bid Match (FBM) cards to bring back two players.

The Yoddhas had an impressive Pro Kabaddi League season 11 and were knocked out in the playoffs in a close encounter by the defending champions, Haryana Steelers.

UP Yoddhas are going to be one of the toughest teams to beat in the upcoming season of the PKL for two reasons. One, they have retained 14 players, who were part of the franchise in the previous season. Players won’t need to spend time on the mat to unite as a team and will be on target right from the start.

Second, the quality of the previous and the newly added players is phenomenal, and the management has done a superb job of creating such a strong bench strength. Here we take a look at the predicted starting 7 of the UP Yoddhas.

Aced the raiding department

UP Yoddhas had a slow start in their raiding department in the previous season. However, the raiders found their form and played a crucial role in their success. The franchise has continued with their top raiders for the upcoming season as well. The experience of Surender Gill, along with Bhavani Rajput, who stood up for the team in the previous season.

Other than that, the young raider, Gagan Gowda, is going to be another solid asset for the team. Gowda scored 145 raid points last season. The Yoddhas also retained young raiders like Keshav Kumar and Shivam Choudhary.

Although the Yoddhas went into the auction with the least purse amount, they used it wisely and roped in Guman Singh, another stellar raider, onto their side for INR 1.073 crores.

Despite having an average last season, Singh has tremendous capabilities and can be a lethal asset. Pranay Rane, Dong Geon Lee, and Jatin Singh were also added to the team in the PKL 12 auction.

Also Read: PKL 12: Top five best players of UP Yoddhas in Pro Kabaddi 2025

Untouched lineup of defenders

UP Yoddhas were phenomenal in their defence in the previous season. Continuing where they left off, they will begin from the same place. The Yoddhas management has retained all the key defenders from last season and has kept their combination intact.

Sumit will once again be their strongest and most experienced defender, with 326 tackle points. Just like PKL 11, Hitesh would accompany him from the other corner, a proven match-winning combination for them.

Apart from this, Ashu Singh and Mahender Singh will be the covers for the Yoddhas, which is another great pair for the team. Sahul Kumar, Mohammadreza Kaboudrahangi, Gangaram, Sachin Manipal, Jayesh Mahajan, and Ronak Nain are the other capable defenders who will contribute whenever needed.

Once again, the UP Yoddhas lineup looks stunning. They have reached the PKL playoffs five times but have yet to lift the trophy. With this lineup, they once again have a strong case for clinching the title. It will be interesting to see if the UP Yoddhas can lift their first PKL title in 2025.

UP Yoddhas’ predicted starting seven for PKL 12-

Raiders: Guman Singh, Bhavani Rajput, Gagan Gowda.

Defenders: Sumit Sangwan, Hitesh, Mahender Singh, Ashu Singh.

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